RTI Signs New Distributors, Including Volutone

Remote Technologies Inc. (RTI), provider of high-performance universal remotes and controllers, has expanded its distribution after years of exclusivity with AVAD.

Volutone, a regional distributor in Southern California, is the first to announce a partnership with RTI.

"Having the RTI line of two-way communication products at Volutone is awesome," says Steve Honig, Volutone director of marketing. "They offer in-depth technical training that our integrators are thirsty for as well as a powerful software system that is used to program all RTI products."

The move to expand distribution "in no way, shape or form is intended to reflect poorly on the great respect we have for AVAD as a partner and as a leading national distributor," says RTI VP of sales and marketing Pete Baker. "AVAD is a very valued partner of ours and we've experienced great success together."

Baker says that the decision to expand distribution is in part due to the tanking economy, in which "we are all forced to look at our plan, and fine-tune it to remain successful."

RTI is still in the process of evaluating distributors. At this point, Baker is not inclined to sign up another national distributor, preferring instead to let AVAD keep that title.

"It's important to make sure we're effectively reaching all of the dealers in the custom electronics channel who may not otherwise have access to the line," he says.

And while more integrators may theoretically have access to its products, RTI will become even more vigilant about maintaining its brand integrity.

Baker says, "RTI is proud that we have a very protected line, exclusive to professional integrators, and we intend to keep that intact, to continue our commitment to the custom channel."

He adds that RTI will be instituting dealer agreements to ensure that the company "is more in tune with dealers' qualifications and technical capabilities."